AT&T gift to help UTeach Arlington address shortage of math and science teachers

ARLINGTON - A new UT Arlington program committed to bolstering the ranks of math and science
teachers has received $150,000 in support from AT&T.

UTeach Arlington began this fall as a
joint project of the College of Science and the College of Education and Health
Professions. The aim is to address the state’s ongoing shortage of secondary
school math and science teachers by recruiting and inspiring UT Arlington
science majors who are also interested in earning their teaching certifications.

When
they participate in UTeach, students are exposed to education-related courses,
classroom experience and mentoring from area teachers earlier than in past programs.
Freshman and sophomores are also offered scholarships of $125 for each of two
introductory courses they complete.

Wayne Watts, senior
executive vice president and general counsel at AT&T, said the company
expects the program to have far-reaching results.

“UTeach Arlington will
be instrumental in increasing the number of science, math, and
technology-qualified teachers for Texas classrooms, helping to ensure that
students graduate prepared for the challenges of continuing education and the
workforce,” Watts said.

UTeach
Arlington is modeled after a similar program at The University of Texas at
Austin that began 13 years ago. Since then, research has shown that 70 percent of UTeach graduates who enter the teaching profession are still
teaching after five years, compared to an average of 50 percent nationally.

Donald Bobbitt, UT Arlington provost and vice president for
academic affairs, praised AT&T’s support for UTeach.

“Community support is essential for innovative programs such
as UTeach Arlington to flourish,” Bobbitt said. “With the help of generous
donors and grant funding, UT Arlington professors can inspire students and play
a central role in addressing the shortage of math and science teachers in the
state.”

Ninety-six freshmen
signed up to take UTeach Arlington’s STEP 1 class this fall. In addition to
on-campus instruction, the students have also been visiting and even presenting lessons
in local elementary classrooms over the last two months.

UTeach
Arlington is among the innovative education programs offered at The University
of Texas at Arlington, a research institution of nearly 33,000 students in the
heart of North Texas. To learn more about UT Arlington, visit www.uta.edu.